My Experience With Tear Trough Filler
Contrary to every single eye cream advert I’ve ever seen, there is no product that will reduce a natural under-eye hollow. There isn’t one that will miraculously erase dark circles either.
They simply don’t exist.
I’ve always had pronounced dark hollows under my eyes. In the photos from my first day of school, I already look completely over it. I’m convinced the bags under my eyes formed in the womb and got progressively worse over the years. I hate having my picture taken, and the main reasons are lurking under my eyes, even when I’ve had the most beautiful coma-like rest.
In my mid-twenties I started researching tear trough filler. Your tear trough is the annoying crease that runs from your tear duct underneath your lower lash line and your upper cheek. The depth of this crease is the result of a myriad of factors. Including, but not limited to: genetics, your environment, water intake, sleep and stress. Naturally hyperpigmented under-eyes are also a lot more prevalent in darker skin, so are often seen on Asian, Black and Middle Eastern faces.
Choosing to go undergo an aesthetic procedure should never be taken lightly. Even if it appears fairly minor and everyone in the world seems to be getting something done. It’s still voluntarily inflicting trauma on your skin. In the case of tear trough fillers, its inflicting trauma on the most delicate part of skin on your entire body. This is why, before you even start researching clinics, its really important to work out the reasons why you want the procedure. Is it for you or for someone else’s perception of you? Are you just tweaking something you’re relatively happy with or are you changing your face because you want to be ‘pretty’? And who’s version of pretty are you aiming to achieve? These are all key questions to ask yourself, as changing any part of your face can end up heightening your insecurities. You start noticing other parts of your face and body you don’t like, and the treatments start snowballing. Next thing you know, you look like a human cat and you’re bankrupt.
So, I spent seven (SEVEN) years stalking clinics on Instagram. I kept a list of aestheticians that people I knew had used in my notes for future reference. I saved endless before and after photos of tear trough filler across social media. And then one day I just booked it without thinking. Because while I never fail to plan, I always fail to stick to said plan.
The clinic I chose to go to was AKJ Faces, and I don’t have a bad thing to say about the experience. They hold clinics all over the country. The closest one to me is Hazel Grove, which is tucked down an unassuming residential street. When you go in, you’re given an iPad to complete your consultation and some numbing cream. I went in December and would also like to add, that their Christmas tree was the TOWIE Christmas Special of my dreams.
After about 30 minutes, I was taken upstairs and talked through the procedure. My aesthetician was extremely happy and pretty but I can’t remember her name. Nor would I be able to point her out, so please don’t ask me who it was. We will never know.
The juicy bit: AKJ Faces use hyaluronic filler, which is exactly what I wanted. Hyaluronic acid is naturally present in the skin, and is an amazing hydrating ingredient. Due to it’s humectant properties, the hyaluronic filler attracts moisture and plumps up, decreasing the indentations present in the tear trough. The needle is inserted into your eye at a 90 degree angle, and goes into the skin with what I can only describe as a popping sound. Like bursting bubble wrap. It’s really weird, and I wish someone had warned me so I’m sharing the knowledge. The pain is minimal due to the numbing cream, it just feels uncomfortable and like someone pushing down under your eye (which is what actually happens as the filler has to be massaged into place.)
I had 1ml of filler I think, which cost £200 and will last a year. I had more put in the left one, because that’s my worst side and it seems the practitioner agreed. Because that side went deeper and closer to my tear duct, that did hurt at times. Not as much as a tattoo, but it wasn’t pleasant. It also made my top lip twitch like Elvis which was a pleasant surprise.
Once it’s done, you pay and you go. No makeup for 24 hours, and try not to massage your under-eye as that will move your filler. So no gua sha or extensive double cleansing. Swelling is completely normal; my face looked a bit like I’d also had my cheekbones filled. Sadly that only lasted for a few days before they went back to normal.
I would 1000% recommend AKJ Faces, and plan to go back there after the filler has naturally dissolved. This isn’t a reflection on the product. Your body’s job is to get rid of toxins and filler is no exception. For reducing something I’ve always had an issue with, I thought £200 was a small price to pay. It’s important to note that I’ve never had a problem with needles and am covered in tattoos. I’ve also never thought I’d grow old gracefully so I had no qualms or second thoughts when getting this procedure done. I am more than happy to look like a human cat.
Are you considering an aesthetic treatment, but not sure if you could achieve the same results with skincare? Book in for a free 10 minute discovery call and we can discuss your options.
No, I couldn’t find a better comparison pic
